Manchester judge: Open store that sold spice

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MANCHESTER - A judge today ordered city officials to allow the owner of a convenience store that had sold a dangerous brand of synthetic marijuana to reopen.

TN Gas and Convenience store, which saw its business license revoked last week, should be immediately allowed to re-open for business, said Judge Diane M. Nicolosi, the presiding judge at Manchester District Court.

The ruling is a blow to Manchester police, who last week said that the Bubblegum brand of spice had led to numerous overdoses and a public health emergency. Manchester City Clerk Matthew Normand pulled the company's business license last Wednesday, forcing it to close.

The owner said he was losing $10,000 in sales a day and had to idle several workers. "The court finds little to no danger to the public health, safety and welfare if (TN Gas and Convenience) is allowed to remain in operation while the administrative process takes place," Nicolosi said.

She noted that police never found the Bubblegum brand of spice when they searched the store, and the owner said under oath he has removed it.